Chapter 8: Evicted In The Rain 

The next morning, rain poured heavily over the city.

Luna woke to the sound of water hitting the window. For a moment, she remained still, staring at the ceiling as she tried to convince herself that things would somehow get better.

Her body was still sore from the accident, but she had no choice except to get up.She had barely finished washing her face when someone knocked hard on the door.

Luna froze.

The knocking came again.She slowly walked to the door and opened it.

Her landlord stood outside, holding an umbrella.

His expression was impatient.

“Good morning,” Luna said quietly.

“Your rent.”

Luna's heart sank.

She had known this conversation was coming, but hearing those words first thing in the morning still made her stomach twist.

“I don't have it yet.”

The landlord's face remained unchanged.

“I told you yesterday. I need it today.”

“I know. Please, just give me a little more time.”

“There is no more time.”

Luna stared at him.

“I've already rented this apartment to someone else. They are moving in today.”

Her eyes widened.

“What?”

“The new tenant is coming today. I gave you enough notice.”

“But I was in the hospital.”

“And I waited until you came back.”His voice held no sympathy.

“I have nothing against you, Luna, but this is a business. I can't keep an apartment empty because you don't have money.”

Luna looked back into the apartment.

Almost everything she owned was inside.

“Please,” she said. “I just need a few more days.”

The landlord shook his head.

“Pay the rent, and you can stay. If you can't pay, you have to leave.”

Luna's throat tightened.

She returned to the small table and opened her purse.She searched through it again, even though she already knew what she would find.

She pulled out the little money she had left and counted it.she open her banking app and saw her balance $3.17

Her fingers trembled.

Three dollars.

That was all she had.

The remaining three dollars from the money her mother had collected for Aurora's dress.

Luna stared at the bills in disbelief.She had once thought that money would mean something.Now it wasn't even enough to keep a roof over her head.

She slowly turned toward the landlord.

“This is all I have.”

He looked at the money.

Then at her.

“Three dollars?”

Luna nodded.

He let out a tired breath.

“Luna, you know that's not enough.”

“I know.”

“Then you need to pack.”

She looked at him helplessly.

“Where am I supposed to go?”

“That isn't something I can solve for you.”The words hit harder than she expected.

Outside, the rain became heavier.The landlord stepped aside.

“Start gathering your things.”

Luna didn't move.

She couldn't.

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked around the apartment.This tiny place had been the closest thing she had to security.

And now she was losing it.

Within the next hour, her belongings were being carried outside.

Clothes.

Shoes.

Her small kitchen utensils.The few things she had managed to keep.They were shoved into old boxes and black trash bags and placed along the side of the street as the rain soaked everything almost immediately.

Luna stood beneath the building's small entrance, watching helplessly.The landlord locked the apartment door.

“I'm sorry, but I can't do anything else.”

His words sounded nothing like an apology as he walked away.

Luna looked at the bags scattered along the wet pavement.Her clothes were getting soaked.The little things she owned were being ruined by the rain.

She picked up one of the bags and held it against her chest.

She had nowhere to go.

No money.

No home.

And no idea what she was going to do next.For a long moment, she simply stood there in the rain.

Then she picked up another bag.

She couldn't stay there.

She had to find somewhere.

Even if it was only for one night.

With her belongings dragging behind her, Luna started walking.The rain soaked through her clothes within minutes.

People passed her without stopping.

Some looked.

Most didn't.

She kept walking until she reached the diner.The warm light from inside seemed almost unreal compared to the cold rain outside.

Luna pushed open the door.

Marcus was carrying a tray across the diner when he saw her.

His eyes widened as the tray slipped from his hands and crashed onto the floor.

“Luna!”

She stopped.

Marcus rushed toward her.

“What happened?”

Luna looked down at herself, then at the trash bags beside her.She was too exhausted to explain.

“Hit by a train?”

 “Close enough.”she said bitterly.

Marcus stared at her for a second,then his expression changed.He quickly picked up one of the bags and looked at her again.

“Come with me.”

“I can't stay here.”

“You're not staying out there.”He led her toward the break room.

Once inside, Marcus grabbed a clean blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

Luna sat quietly, trembling from the cold and exhaustion.Marcus crouched in front of her.

“You should have called me.”

She looked away.

“I didn't know where else to go.”He was silent for a moment then he sat beside her.

“Stay with me tonight,” he said softly. “You don't have to be alone.”

Luna looked at him.

She wanted to argue.

She wanted to tell him she could handle herself.

But she was too tired.

Too cold.

Too broken.

So she simply nodded.And for the first time that day, Luna allowed herself to stop fighting.